Hayes Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hayes Glacier |
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 Location in Antarctica
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| Location | Coats Land |
| Coordinates | 76°16′S 27°54′W / 76.267°S 27.900°W |
| Length | 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) |
| Thickness | unknown |
| Terminus | Weddell Sea |
| Status | unknown |
Hayes Glacier is a large river of ice located in Antarctica, the coldest continent on Earth. It flows into the southeastern part of the Weddell Sea, which is a large bay of the Southern Ocean. This impressive glacier is about 17 nautical miles long, which is roughly 31 kilometers or 19 miles! It is found west-southwest of another glacier called Dawson-Lambton Glacier.
Discovering Hayes Glacier
Hayes Glacier was first seen and recorded on November 5, 1967. This discovery happened during a special flight over the Caird Coast in Antarctica. The flight was carried out by a United States Navy LC-130 plane. These planes are designed to land on snow and ice, making them perfect for exploring icy places like Antarctica.
After the flight, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) carefully studied photographs taken from the plane. They used these pictures to accurately map out the glacier's location and shape.
Who Was Winston R. Hayes?
The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN). This committee is responsible for naming features in Antarctica. They decided to name the glacier after Lieutenant Commander Winston R. Hayes. He was a pilot in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Lieutenant Commander Hayes was the pilot of the LC-130 plane that first flew over and discovered the glacier in 1967. Naming the glacier after him was a way to honor his important role in its discovery.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is a huge, slow-moving mass of ice. It forms over many years as layers of snow pile up and get compressed into ice. Glaciers are often called "rivers of ice" because they slowly flow downhill due to gravity. They can be found in high mountains or in very cold regions like Antarctica and Greenland. Glaciers play an important role in the Earth's climate and water cycle.
See also
